MARLBOROUGH'S mayor hailed the work of unpaid carers at the launch of Carer Support Wiltshire's £25,000 appeal to give them a bit of a break.

Coun Noel Barrett Morton joined representatives from the charity at the town's Deacons Jewellers last Friday as they launched their 'Time for Carers' appeal which looks to help some of the county's 47,500 unpaid carers.

The backdrop of the clock section at the jewellers was chosen to reinforce the message that carers need time off, something the charity tries to provide.

"These people who care for family and friends are unsung heroes. They need all the help we can get as they do a magnificent job and that fact should be highlighted," said the mayor.

"This is a great appeal and I hope it can help out as many of these unpaid carers as possible as they need all the support they can get."

The charity aim to raise the money July and in the first month already they have raised nearly £10,000.

Director of Deacons, Richard Deacon, said: "Deacons are very pleased to be able to support the Time for Carers Appeal, people who are all too often overlooked in this busy world of ours."

The event also coincided with nationwide Young Carers Awareness Day which takes place today (January 26).

"One thing all carers say is that they need a little time for themselves, yet our research shows one in three carers never have a weekend or evening break from their caring role, and one in three feel guilty if they do," said the charity's chief executive Catharine Hurford.

"All the money we raise through this appeal will go directly to enabling carers to have a bit of time to themselves."

The charity hopes businesses will back the appeal by making it their adopted charity. Individuals or groups and organisations are being invited to hold fundraisers or sponsored events.

For more information about the appeal visit http://carersinwiltshire.co.uk/